Bird to fund players’ balcony

veteran umpire Harold 'Dickie' Bird points out a feature of today's (Tuesday) action in the one-day NatWest trophy game at The Foster's Oval in London between Surrey and Somerset. He retired from the international Test circuit earlier this summer. By Dave Cheskin/PA.

Published:10:38Tuesday 03 March 2015

After recently announcing the installation of permanent floodlights at Headingley, further development of the stadium will continue with a players’ balcony to be built in front of the dressing rooms in the Carnegie Pavilion.

Club President Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird OBE will fund the project and work on the scheme is to start in the next couple of weeks.

The balcony should be in use at the LV= County Championship match against Warwickshire on April 26.

Bird, the former Test match umpire and nominated by the club’s board to stand for a second term as President at the AGM this month, believes the new balcony will be a major addition to the facilities at Headingley.

“These lads have given me so much pleasure over the past 12 months with their magnificent performances in the Championship and I wanted to reward them for their efforts,” said the 81-year-old.

The balcony will be built above the sightscreen at the Kirkstall Lane end of the ground.